Transporting device for containers

ABSTRACT

A transporting device, especially for large containers, which comprises two carriage units each having a supporting frame which is connectable to the ends of a container to be transported by said units and which through the intervention of cantilevers is connected to wheel-equipped shaft means, said shaft means and said supporting frame means being adjustable relative to each other in vertical direction by lifting means.

United States Patent Inventor Reinhard Walerowski Dusseldorf, GermanyAppl. No. 877,979 Filed Nov. 19, 1969 Patented Jan. 4, 1972 AssigneeHelnrlch de Fries Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Hai'tung Dusseldorf,Germany Priority Feb. 1, 1969 Germany P 19 04 938.8

TRANSPORTING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS 10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 214/390, 214/512, 254/2 R, 280/43.l l, 280/4323 Int. Cl 860p 3/40Field of Search 214/390,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,520,630 12/1924 Bateman214/390 2,545,440 3/1951 Barber 254/2 B 2,558,535 6/1951 Billings..254/2 B 2,968,490 1/1961 Baus 214/390 X 3,497,231 2/1970 Fulmer eta.280/4323 X 3,521,898 7/1970 Fulmer et a1 280/4323 Primary ExaminerAlbertJ. Makay Att0rneyWa1ter Becker ABSTRACT: A transporting device,especially for large containers, which comprises two carriage units eachhaving a supporting frame which is connectable to the ends of acontainer to be transported by said units and which through theintervention of cantilevers is connected to wheel-equipped shaft means,said shaft means and said supporting frame means being adjustablerelative to each other in vertical direction by lifting means.

PATENTEUJAN 4m 3.631.999

SHEET 1 [1F 6 Fig. 7

INVENTOR. 73 22/404 Ira/crows? PATENTED JAN 4 I972 SHEET 2 BF 6 Fig, 4

I NVEN TOR. z rfvromrrnrlx BY PATENTED JAN 4 I972 SHEET 3 BF 6 INVENTOR.Zm m'muwh- BY PATENTED JAN 4 [972 3631.999 SHEET a 0F 6 TRANSPORTINGDEVICE FOR CONTAINERS The present invention relates to a transportingdevice for containers.

Transport vehicles for containers hitherto proposed have been in theform of a crane or a forklift truck, and have a loading surface on whichone or more containers are placed. The containers can be loaded orunloaded over the longitudinal sides or the ends of the transportvehicles.

The above transport vehicles have the drawback that they are,constructionwise, very expensive and complicated, and owing to theirweight and size, they are often unable to convey large loaded containersdirectly to their destination.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide atransporting device of the mentioned character which will overcome theabove-outlined drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a transporting devicefor large containers, preferably for containers having their comerportions provided with metal fittings, by of which the large containerscan be transported in a simple manner to its place of destination,especially within the plant.

It is another object of this invention to provide a transporting deviceas set forth in the preceding paragraphs, which will be relativelyinexpensive to produce and can easily be operated.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a side elevation of a container having a transport devicefitted to the ends thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side view similar to FIG. 1, showing the container clear ofthe ground.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a transport device according to theinvention and shows the units thereof directly connected together.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation to an enlarged scale of the rear part of onetransport unit of the transport device according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan to an enlarged scale of the front part of the unit.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the transport unit to an enlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is a section along the line VII-VII of the unit shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation corresponding to FIG. 6 of a modified form oftransport unit according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation corresponding to FIG. 6 of a further modifiedform of transport unit according to the inventron.

FIG. 10 shows on a larger scale than FIG. 1, an end portion of acontainer, and especially the reinforced corner portions.

FIG. 11 is a section along the line XIXI of FIG. 10.

FIG. I la is a section similar to that of FIG. 11 but through a lowercomer of the container and the adjacent transport unit portion.

FIG. I2 is a section along the line XIIXII of FIG. Ila.

FIG. I3 illustrates a modified transport unit according to which, incontrast to FIGS. 6 and 8-10, the cantilever supporting the wheelbearings is fixedly connected to the frame while the wheel bearings areadjustable relative to said cantilever.

According to the invention there is provided a transport device for acontainer, which comprises a pair of transport units arranged to berespectively attached to opposite ends of the container, each of saidtransport units including container support means connected by acantilevered arm to a wheeled chassis member, and also including liftingmeans connected between the chassis member and the container supportmeans to lift the container support means relative to the chassismember.

Further, according to the invention there is provided a transport devicefor a container, which comprises a transport unit arranged to beattached at opposed ends of the container, each transport unit includinga chassis member, container support means movable substantiallyvertically relative to said support member, and lifting means betweenthe chassis member and the container support means to effect saidvertical movement.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there are shown in dotdash lines,large containers 1, of known form. Each end of each container hasassociated therewith a transport unit 20 or 2b respectively. Eachtransport unit comprises a frame 3 carrying a lower hooklike support 30and an upper bolt 3b which engage suitable reinforced apertures orfittings on the container. A chassis member or shaft 5 carrying wheels 6is mounted on a pair of cantilever arms 4, the arms 4 being linked tothe frame 3 by a lifting unit 7 so that the frame 3 can be raised orlowered relative to the chassis member 5.

With the embodiments shown in the drawings, the shaft 5 is connected tothe cantilever arms 4 which by means of the lifting device 7 areadjustable as to height and supported by frame 3. However, thecantilever arms 4 may instead by connected to frame 3, and the shaft 5may be mounted on arms 4 for adjustment relative to arms 4 to therebyadjust frame 3 as to height as shown in FIG. 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, frame 3 comprises two vertical and twohorizontal supports. Between the horizontal supports there are arrangedtwo I-sectional guide members 30. Between the legs of these guidemembers 30 there are provided four guide rollers 4a each which arecarried by the cantilever arms 4. By means of two lifting units 7 eacharranged between a cantilever arm 4 and the upper transverse beam of theframe 3, frame 3 may be raised or lowered relative to the member 5.According to the embodiment of FIG. 6 each lifting unit 7 comprises ahydraulic cylinder 7a. The two hydraulic cylinders 7a on the carriagesor transporting units 2a, 2b are fed from a common hydraulic pump 9,which is arranged on the member 5.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 8, instead of the hydraulic cylinderof lifting unit 7, the lifting unit 7' comprises a rack 11 connected tothe frame 3. Rack 11 meshes with a pinion 12 rotatably mounted on thecantilever arms 4. Upon a rotary movement of pinion 12, relativemovement is obtained between the cantilever arms 4 and the frame 3.

According to the third embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 9,the lifting unit 7" comprises a cable 13 which can be wound onto andunwound from a drum l4, driven by drive means 15.

When a large or giant container 1, which as shown in FIG. 1 has beenplaced on the ground, is to be transported, each unit 2a and 2b of thetransport device is attached to an end of the container, the hooklikesupports 3a and upper bolts 3b being inserted and locked into suitableapertures in the container. In order to prevent the units 20 and 2b fromtilting over when these units are brought up to the ends of thecontainer 1, and to facilitate correct alignment, the frames 3 areprovided with supporting rollers 10 which are adjustable as to height.

When the units 2a and 2b have been fitted the ends of container l, thelifting units 7 are actuated in order to raise the frame 3 and hence thecontainer connected thereto relative to the member 5. To this end, inthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the hydraulic cylinders 7a are bythe hydraulic pump 9 supplied with pressure fluid. With the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 8, the pinion 12 is driven in such a way thatthe rack 11 and the frame 3 are moved upwardly, so that the container lis raised.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, for raising the largecontainer, the cable 13 is wound onto the drum 14.

As soon as the large container 1 has been raised, as shown in FIG. 2, bythe actuation of the lifting unit 7, it can be moved by means of the twotransport units 2a and 2b b, viz either by hand or with the aid of amotor-driven tractor. In the last-mentioned instance, for travel withinthe plant area, forklifts or electric carriages may be used, and fortravel on public highways, tractors or trucks may be used. For thispurpose, at least one of the units 2a is provided with a tow bar 8, thewheels 6 of this unit being steerable.

As soon as the container 1 has reached its destination, the liftingdevices 7, 7, 7" are actuated in the opposite direction.

Through the weight of the container 1, which acts upon the liftingdevices 7 through frame 3, the lowering process starts. in order thatthe lifting devices 7, 7, 7" are not permanently under the load of theraised container 1, there may be provided means for supporting the frame3 directly by the cantilever arms when the container is fully raised.Expediently, movement of the frame 3 may be limited by stops.

in order to facilitate movement of the transport units without acontainer, the units may be coupled together as shown in FIG. 3. Forthis purpose, the two frames 3 are joined together by means of asuitable intermediate part 16.

Since it is often necessary to deposit several containers 1 immediatelynext to one another, while individual containers have to be removed froma greater number of containers 1 by means of a transporting device, thetotal width of the units 20 and 2b corresponds at most to the width ofthe container 1. As the containers 1 are standardized and their width isalways the same even though their lengths may be different, the twounits 2a and 2b may be used for containers of differing size.

The transport device is not, of course, confined to the embodimentsshown. For instance, the chassis member of each unit 2a and 2b may becushioned by means of rubber springs, which at the same time, act as thelifting unit. Further, the cantilever arms can be connected directly tothe frame 3, the member 5 being connected to cantilever arms by means ofthe lifting unit. The device can also be used for transporting sheltersand the like.

With such a transport device the laden or empty containers in thefactory can be easily moved and taken to their destination, since thetransport unit arranged at each end of the container permits ease ofmovement of the container by hand or by towing. Since the height of thecontainers above the ground is only slightly increased, there is nodifficulty about conveying the containers directly to their destination,which can be done by normal transport vehicles, as, for instance,forklift trucks, tractors or lorries.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the showing in the drawings, but also comprises modificationswithin the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A transporting device, especially for large containers, whichcomprises two carriage units for respective arrangement on opposite endsof a container to be transported, each of said carriage units including:frame means for engagement with an end of the container to betransported, cantilever means and axis-defining means connectedtherewith, wheel means on said axis-defining means and therebysupporting said cantilever means, lifting means operative upon saidaxisdefining means interposed between and interconnecting said frame ofsaid cantilever means, said lifting means being operable selectivelyvertically to adjustably guide said frame means and said wheel meansrelative to each other in a vertical direction, and support roller meansarranged steerable and height adjustable on said frame means.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said carriage units arecapable of being coupled and in coupled condition can travel attransport speed.

3. A device according to claim 1, in which at least one of said carriageunits comprises a tow bar.

4. A device according to claim I, in which each carriage unit includesshaft means carrying the pertaining wheel means and being fixedlyconnected to said cantilever means, and in which said cantilever meansis connected to said frame means for adjustment in vertical direction.

5. A device according to claim 4, in which said cantilever means areprovided with roller means guided on said frame means.

6. A device according to claim 1, in which said lifting means includeshydraulic cylinder piston means.

7. A device according to claim 4, which includes stop means for limitingthe adjustment in vertical direction of said cantilever means, and meansfor arresting said cantilever means in the respective adjusted positionthereof.

8. A device according to claim 1, which includes coupling means forselectively coupling said two carriage units to each other when thelatter do not support a container to thereby permit the movement of saidtwo carriage units as a single entirety.

9. A device according to claim I, in which each carriage unit includesshaft means carrying the pertaining wheel means, and in which saidlifting means include rubber springs cushioning said shaft means.

10. A device according to claim 1, in which the total width of the twocarriage units equals at best the width of the container to betransported.

1. A transporting device, especially for large containers, whichcomprises two carriage units for respective arrangement on opposite endsof a container to be transported, Each of said carriage units including:frame means for engagement with an end of the container to betransported, cantilever means and axisdefining means connectedtherewith, wheel means on said axisdefining means and thereby supportingsaid cantilever means, lifting means operative upon said axis-definingmeans interposed between and interconnecting said frame and saidcantilever means, said lifting means being operable selectivelyvertically to adjustably guide said frame means and said wheel meansrelative to each other in a vertical direction, and support roller meansarranged steerable and height adjustable on said frame means.
 2. Adevice according to claim 1, in which said carriage units are capable ofbeing coupled and in coupled condition can travel at transport speed. 3.A device according to claim 1, in which at least one of said carriageunits comprises a tow bar.
 4. A device according to claim 1, in whicheach carriage unit includes shaft means carrying the pertaining wheelmeans and being fixedly connected to said cantilever means, and in whichsaid cantilever means is connected to said frame means for adjustment invertical direction.
 5. A device according to claim 4, in which saidcantilever means are provided with roller means guided on said framemeans.
 6. A device according to claim 1, in which said lifting meansincludes hydraulic cylinder piston means.
 7. A device according to claim4, which includes stop means for limiting the adjustment in verticaldirection of said cantilever means, and means for arresting saidcantilever means in the respective adjusted position thereof.
 8. Adevice according to claim 1, which includes coupling means forselectively coupling said two carriage units to each other when thelatter do not support a container to thereby permit the movement of saidtwo carriage units as a single entirety.
 9. A device according to claim1, in which each carriage unit includes shaft means carrying thepertaining wheel means, and in which said lifting means include rubbersprings cushioning said shaft means.
 10. A device according to claim 1,in which the total width of the two carriage units equals at best thewidth of the container to be transported.